The Very Eventful Lives of the Excellent Cats

[TheShellBeach]

Calling all cats and their overworked slaves - join us as we grudgingly accept that every day is National Cat Day as far as our moggies are concerned.

I've been in London for the last few days with DD14 on a skincare and fashion shopping spree. I insisted that we did something cultural yesterday so we visited Southwark Cathedral. I was privileged to meet and stroke Hodge the cathedral cat. Here he is waiting to be let out after a service.

Hodge! Wonder if he was named for Dr Johnson's Hodge? ❤️

Reminds me of the book Cathedral Cats I had years ago.

I'm sure he's named after Dr Johnson's Hodge. He is a splendid cat and reliably livens up the cathedral services

Wonderful boy! 😻

Hodge's story

He was named after Johnson's Hodge.

I’ve seen more flattering photos of cats! Poor Hodge.

DH has been minding the foster kittens while we've been away. He's been giving me plenty of updates, the kittens have weaned themselves onto wet food very easily.

This was the scene at breakfast time today.

That is a wonderful picture @TheLongRider !
The kittens look tiny.

I presume that's when he had the growth on his face! Poor boy, glad it's healed.

Here is my cat she is puffed up and a bit annoyed as it was Halloween night and the doorbell rang about 25 times with Trick or Treaters.

Such teensy babies!

@TheSilverThorn very effective use of fur-fluffing to make himself look like someone who isn’t to be trifled with! We have a plastic lizard on our doorstep (don’t even ask how that happened) but even when we lived in the States, where trick or treating is mandatory, he apparently scared the children off! Your cat is clearly emulating him!

@Catsmere you're obviously right, lol, sorry.

My DP and I use the 🐬emoji (hope that works) to indicate that we’ve curled up and squeaked with affection - that’s pretty much what I did when I saw those kittens! I even showed them to Velvet who is curled up next to me after a busy morning of nearly falling to her death off the top landing balustrade, then nearly launching herself through the balustrade after her little ball toy. She’s also kidnapped my dressing-gown cord and paraded it around the house until she lost interest!

@CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau no worries, I didn't realise till I read the article! You would think they'd have a better one of him ...

Miss Daredevil Velvet is looking beautiful there - and like she's plotting further mischief.

I like the way that even when you are in London you meet a cat, TheLongRider. The kitten photo is amazing too.

Dr Johnson loved Hodge. He used to go and by him oysters in true cat slave fashion! We went on one of those London Walks which ended with mulled wine by the statue of Hodge. I can't find my photo so this is someone else's.

DD and I have the magic touch when we meet strange cats. The cats seem to understand that we are cat people and we're safe to talk to them. It's certainly a privilege.

My baby girl (Sphinx x Siamese) and her big brother (former feral barn cat turned soppy socks). DH ‘isn’t a cat person’ but these two have thoroughly converted him 😂

We met a cat yesterday when we were looking at the outside of DS's new flat, but it ran off before I could get a picture.

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats Thanks. I am in bits now. That perfectly describes our first relationship with a black/white cat, who, having stayed as a guest in all 7 of the other houses in our close decided we needed him most. We just didn't know it yet. He died over 30yrs ago and that poem reduced me to bits.

@OzziePopPop Oh my goodness what a gorgeous looking cat! Obviously both your cars are gorgeous, but the sphynx Siamese cross is so unusual looking. I am jealous

Akasha (queen of the Egyptian underworld) thanks you 💐

She is seriously gorgeous I admit!

Was she an accident or an on purpose breeding? Her colouring is really unusual for either breed, I have a similar colour cat but she's just a standard moggy (don't tell her I said that!)

@RumNotRun She was an on purpose😀her breeder is a friend of a friend and has mum and dad. Dad is Sphinx, he’s called Pumpkin and I guess that’s a clue to his colour! Mum is jet black. Her litter looked like this….. Akasha is in the middle looking gorgeous in the sofa pic. Madam knows she’s gorgeous!

Her (adopted) big brother is a standard barn/farm cat moggy type, she doesn’t seem to mind cuddling him 😂

They are the cutest!! I used to have a black half Siamese when I was a child. She was my first cat. I still have a photo of her on the fridge, I love Siamese cats. I love all cats, but Siamese and black cats have a special place in my heart.

I am resisting temptation to ask if your friend of a friend will be breeding them again/has any leftover kittens!

Leroy giving zero fucks about the fireworks 🤷🏼‍♀️

Good Leroy! I'm probably cursing myself but the fireworks haven't been too bad round here, maybe due to the awful weather. Usually those vile cannon sounding ones go off for days around this time of year but touch wood, I haven't heard any. Yet. They're the only ones that seem to upset the tribe.